If you’re reading this, you did it. You (basically) made it to April. Congratulations! The saltwater fishing season is just about here. Each day should see slight improvements in fishing for tautog and striped bass.
As of Saturday 4/1, tog season is open, and I can tell you with confidence that they’re already in the Canal. Fishermen in the Northeast have long associated the first sprouting dandelions with the start of spring tautog season, and earlier this week, Jimmy Fee mentioned that his daughter plucked a lone dandelion from their lawn. Right on cue.
My co-workers may be upset with me spoiling this online gem, but I hope it entertains you as much as it does our team: The Massachusetts Maritime Academy has a Cape Cod Canal Underwater Camera set up to livestream directly to YouTube. It’s like having a fish tank on your computer screen. I have been watching the live stream intently, and signs of life began to appear late last week with small bergall (cunner) hanging around the rocks during periods of gentle current. Then, on Wednesday morning, Andy Nabreski hollered over our cubicle barrier “Tog in the Canal!”. There it was, a decent sized blackfish wriggling its way into a rock den for shelter from the increasingly rapid CCC current. Soon enough, we’ll be able to catch them from shore and by kayak.
Holdover striped bass are still active with an influx of herring in the rivers. But I’m sure I speak for a lot of us when I say, I am itching for the migratory fish to arrive. We shouldn’t have to wait long, maybe two weeks or so. The south side of Martha’s Vineyard typically receives it’s first liced up stripers around April 14. Last year, our friend Stavros Viglas (@south_of_the_vineyard) caught a handful of schoolie bass hosting sea lice while using white bucktails in the surf on April 14th. And with what appears to be a stronger herring run this year, the first migratory bass should be in the rivers and salt ponds very shortly. At least we have tautog season to hold us over until then.
Largemouth bass fishing was pretty great earlier this week before air temperatures began dipping back into the low- to mid-30’s at night. I had a silly bite all to myself early on Sunday while fishing soft plastics in the wind. On almost every cast for a little over two hours, I had largemouth bass in the one-pound range taking my lures on the drop. The fish were schooled tight to a deep weed line at the end of a drop-off, and as long as my cast reached the weeds and I let it sink for 2 or 3 seconds, the bass were eating it. Some of the fish were tiny, but I welcomed the seemingly unceasing action, and eventually lost count around 40 bass.
After catching a couple dozen bass with the Vudu Mullet, I hooked a good fish and lost it, along with my lure, to a few big headshakes. That’s what I get for not cutting back the worn leader. Worried that the fun would end with the loss of that lure, I rigged a 2.8-inch Strike King Rage Swimmer in the Electric Shad color onto a 1/4-ounce jighead. The action continued, with the fish still taking my lure on the drop almost half the time.
It felt great to find such a consistent bite, and even though it was all small fish, it gave me hope for more fun spring fishing ahead.
Other anglers chased trout this week as the pond stockings continued. From the Mashpee area, OTW Reader Ron Signs sent me a couple pictures of some fat rainbow trout that he caught from shore while casting a Little Cleo spoon.
From the Upper Cape, OTW reader Kyle Achee reports:
“I was out trout fishing and actually found this dead 21-inch smallmouth bass with a full catfish stuck in its mouth. The smallie had clearly been there for a couple while. A fly fisherman nearby came over to investigate, and after some struggling, pulled the catfish out of its mouth, and the catfish swam off like nothing even happened. When he pulled the fish out, it became apparent how badly the barbs of the catfish got stuck in this smallie; pretty good predation defense on their part.”
You can find the video of the catfish release here: On The Water Magazine Instagram page. (@onthewatermagazine)
While pond hopping for bass one night this week, my buddy Jack hooked what he thought was surely an overzealous largemouth on a live shiner. When the fish reached his feet, it turned out not to be so!
Catching big crappie is always a nice surprise, especially when you’re expecting to see a slightly dinky bass on the end of the line.
Freshwater fishing is certainly improving as the ponds slowly warm, but I was skunked on the two nights I went largemouth fishing this week. Next week it looks like most of our weather bottoms out in the 40’s, and with tautog season opening, it’s really starting to feel like spring.
It’s time to start tying up high-low rigs and calling local tackle shops for green crabs. Here’s what the shops have to say about fishing this week:
Connor at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay reports:
“Bass fishing has been good with the warmer weather and sunshine. I can confidently say that you’ll most likely catch some largemouth if you go out looking for them. They’re biting on jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits and soft plastics mostly. We have a good trout crowd still coming in as the stocking trucks continue to make their rounds. Usually the second round of stockings sees some larger fish put into the ponds, so get out there with som spinners, spoons or shiners and enjoy.”
Evan at Eastman’s Sport and Tackle in Falmouth reports:
“Lots of people are catching trout this past week. One customer has been fishing John’s Pond in Mashpee and is catching a few fish on spinners almost every day. We’re also selling a good amount of live shiners for largemouth. There have been a few people looking for green crabs, but we won’t have them for a week or two; spring tautog season usually kicks off after the first week of April, and green crabs can’t be harvested until April 1 anyway, which is when tog season opens. Check back soon for bait, and until then, get after the good freshwater action.”
Amy at Sports Port Bait and Tackle in Hyannis reports:
“There are lots of trout being caught this week. One customer sent me a report and said he caught 1 rainbow, 1 brook trout and 5 brown trout, and his buddy caught a handful of browns in under 2 hours as well. The fishing was fast and they caught most of the trout on artificials like the Mepps Black Fury and Thomas Buoyant spoons in gold. The browns were also hitting floating Rapala jerkbaits. Shiner sales slowed down this week and we are still selling lots of nightcrawlers, however, most people seem to be using lures for trout, and it’s working out!”
In case you missed last week, Captain Ross of Cape Cod Charter Guys in Bourne reports:
“We’re working on getting the boat in the water around early to mid-May when the stripers come into Buzzard’s Bay and begin to transition through the Cape Cod Canal. We’ll be out and about in April surveying the scene and checking out the tog grounds, but our charters will begin in just over a month, so reach out to book your dates now! Additionally, if anyone is looking for a Captain for their boat, please inquire with us or go to our website, as we provide services to help you find fish on your own vessel. Looking forward to a great season ahead!”
More charter captains will start getting their boats in the water by mid- to late-April, so if you’re looking to book a trip this season, use the link below and let us help you find the right charter for your target species!
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Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain around Cape Cod and the Islands!
Cape Cod Fishing Forecast
The usual suspects, trout and largemouth bass, are keeping anglers busy on the ponds this week. Bass fishing is only going to improve as water temperatures keep crawling toward the 50-degree plus mark, and bycatch like yellow perch, crappie and pickerel will become more common.
Smallmouth bass are also biting on slow-sinking or suspending jerkbaits in deeper water, and that bite will be improving as well. Those fish are going to be on the move in the coming weeks, making them a viable target for shore fishermen.
While tautog are around, the fishing will likely start off slow. If you can find some green crabs early on, by all means, head to the nearest jetty and test the waters! I think a few more days of warm weather and sun next week will kick things into gear. Until then, strap on your waders or load up the kayak and hit your local ponds for some action.
If you’d like to contribute to our fishing reports, reach out to me via email (mhaeffner@onthewater.com) or via Instagram (@hefftyfishing) with a sentence or two reporting your experience on the water, along with any fish photos related to your report.